I finally got to go see Joe Strummer and the Mesceleros last night in Dublin's Olympia theatre. It was a fantastic gig. He mixed old Clash favourites with inspired new songs off "Global a GoGo" and "Rock Art in the X Ray Style".

He opened with Minstrel Boy and strolled out onto the stage and picked up that worn old black telecaster made famous by early anarchic Clash gigs at the Rainbow.

I have to say the hairs stood on the back of my neck. Seeing Joe sing "I Fought the Law", "Londons Burning" and "Rudy Cant Fail" was a rare treat as to what real rock n roll is about.

After the band left the stage for the first time the crowd heard the opening riff of "Bankrobber" played by a lone guitarist on stage; before the rest of the band had even returned the crowd swayed to their own singing of the opening verse. It truly was magnificent.

They finished with "Message to Rudy" and brought a close to an unforgettable night.

Anyone who hasnt heard the Mesceleros should have a listen to those two albums.
Joe Strummer:the only Messiah we deserve...

Hmm, Joe Strummer. I've got to admit, I like the Clash okay, but I've never considered them as important as a LOT of other bands. I used to own London Calling in college, but sold it to buy beer/pot/smokes/burgers/football tix/gas/whatever. In the current state of hating most new music that I'm in, feeling as I have for most of my life that there's enough great music from the past to fall in love with that--never mind the crap on the radio today, perhaps I shall give the Clash a re-listening.

But seriously, Jimmy, are you telling me that Joe Strummer's new stuff is going to impress someone who's never been much of a Clash fan? Is it that good? (Here's to hoping you say "yes".) Give me an unbiased answer and I'll check it out.

Jeff, if I were you I'd pick up the first Clash album on CD. It's really fucking great. "Clash City Rockers" is a re-write of the Who's "Can't Explain" (which we all know was a re-write of the Kinks song). "White Riot" is great. "I'm So Bored with the USA," "White Man in Hammersmith Palais." There are so many great songs on it. Download all of those that I just mentioned and then go out an buy the CD when you are as blown away as you oughta be.

Did ye get White Man on the debut album aswell! Jesus. Its not on the UK release.

Jeff I can honestly say that my favourite Strummer/Clash song has always been Straight to Hell (on an aside the version on "From Here to Eternity" is live changing).

There is a song called "Yalla Yalla" which is on "Rock Art and the X- Ray Style"- the first Mesceleros release.

The quality compares. I was as doubting as you but what can I say Strummer just has IT, that increasingly rare ability to force people to believe.
"Tony Adams" is great as is "Nitcomb"-the only love song I've ever heard written about a nitcomb incidentally.

London Calling is quite simply a phenomenal record. Sell your cigarettes or quit drinking for a week and buy it back!

I'll probably get resistance but I've goota say that the Clash were the best live band of all time. Here comes the backlash....